Core Points - Character.AI, a tech startup, has removed several Disney characters from its chatbot platform following a cease-and-desist letter from Disney alleging copyright infringement [1][2] - The letter from Disney's legal representatives stated that Character.AI's chatbots impersonated iconic Disney characters and misled consumers into believing they were interacting with official Disney content [2][3] - Disney expressed concerns over inappropriate conversations that chatbots may have engaged users in, further complicating the situation [3] Company Actions - Character.AI stated that it responds quickly to requests from rights holders to remove content and mentioned that the characters on its platform are user-generated [4] - The spokesperson for Character.AI indicated that the removal of characters is a process and that some Disney characters, like Elsa, still remained on the platform at the time of the report [4] Industry Context - The friction between Hollywood studios and AI companies is increasing, as evidenced by Disney and Comcast's Universal Pictures suing AI company Midjourney for copyright infringement related to characters from popular franchises [5][6] - Warner Bros. Discovery has also joined the legal actions against Midjourney, alleging that its software produces unauthorized versions of well-known characters [6]

Group 1 - Electronic Arts (EA) is nearing a $50 billion sale to a group of investors including Silver Lake and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund [1] - EA is known for its annual sports titles in franchises like Madden NFL, FIFA, and NBA Live, as well as popular video game series such as The Sims, Battlefield, Need for Speed, and Star Wars [1] - The potential deal could be the largest leveraged buyout in history, primarily funded with debt [2] Group 2 - Following the news of EA potentially going private, the company's stocks surged by 15% on Friday afternoon [2]

Disney has made $2.2 billion from filming productions like 'Avengers: Endgame' in the U.K. ©Marvel Studios 2018Disney has been handed $2.2 billion by the government of the United Kingdom over the past 15 years in return for filming movies and streaming shows in the country according to analysis of more than 400 company filingsDisney is believed to be the biggest single beneficiary of the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) in the U.K. which gives studios a cash reimbursement of up to 25.5% of the money t ...

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market closed on September 16, 2025, with major indexes near all-time highs, driven by strong retail sales data and anticipation of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting [1][3] - The S&P 500 Index decreased by 0.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite finished up less than 0.1%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped between 0.2% and 0.3% [2] Economic Data - U.S. retail sales for August increased by 0.6% month-over-month, exceeding expectations of 0.3%, with July's figures revised to a 0.6% growth [5] - Upcoming economic releases include Housing Starts and Building Permits, which will provide insights into the housing market's health [6] Federal Reserve Meeting - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting is expected to conclude with a widely anticipated 25-basis-point reduction in the federal funds rate, aimed at boosting economic activity [4] Corporate Developments - Alphabet (GOOGL) shares rose, reaching a market capitalization above $3 trillion, following Citigroup's price target increase to $280 from $225 [7] - Tesla (TSLA) shares increased over 3% after Elon Musk's $1 billion stock purchase [7] - Emerson Electric (EMR) shares fell nearly 5% due to disappointing fiscal fourth-quarter orders guidance [8] - Webtoon Entertainment's shares soared 28% after a deal with Disney for a new digital comics platform [9] Upcoming Earnings Reports - General Mills (GIS) is set to report earnings, with other notable companies like FedEx (FDX), Micron Technology (MU), Accenture (ACN), Costco Wholesale (COST), and Nike (NKE) scheduled for later in September [12]

Disney plans to take a stake in Webtoon Entertainment as the companies prepare to create a new digital platform that will house all of the entertainment giant’s various comic brands, including Marvel and Star Wars https://t.co/Z5ascLXkPb ...

Core Concept - Coca-Cola and Disney have launched a collaboration titled "Coca-Cola x Star Wars: Refresh Your Galaxy," aimed at celebrating the power of fandom and community through limited-edition products and an augmented reality experience [1][2][3] Collaboration Details - The campaign features limited-edition Coca-Cola cans and bottles showcasing iconic Star Wars characters, designed to engage fans globally through creative content across various platforms [2][4] - The collaboration emphasizes the shared commitment of Coca-Cola and Disney to create moments of joy and connection, highlighting the cultural significance of Star Wars fandom [3][4] Product Offerings - A total of 21 new character designs will be available, including characters like Lando Calrissian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Vader, with some designs exclusive to Disney parks [5][8] - Fans can unlock an augmented reality experience by scanning the cans or advertisements, allowing them to create and share personalized hologram messages [4][5] Marketing Strategy - The campaign is developed by WPP Open X, led by Ogilvy, and supported by various partners, focusing on engaging Star Wars fans through innovative marketing strategies [6] - The launch will include creative content set in movie theaters, a culturally significant venue for both Coca-Cola and Star Wars [3]

Core Viewpoint - Lego A/S reported record half-year revenue of approximately 34.6 billion Danish kroner (about 5.4 billion USD) for the first half of 2025, indicating strong growth compared to the previous year's revenue of 4.8 billion USD [1][2] Group 1: Financial Performance - The company's consumer sales increased by 13% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, reflecting an expanding market share [1] - Operating profit for the first half of 2025 reached 9 billion Danish kroner, a 10% increase year-on-year, while net profit also grew by 10% to 6.5 billion Danish kroner [1] Group 2: Market Strategy - Lego plans to enhance its investment in the Asian market, recognizing its importance in the company's growth strategy [1][2] - The company opened its first stores in major Indian cities and established a new factory in Vietnam to capitalize on the growing middle class in the region [1][2] - The new factory in Vietnam is Lego's first large-scale manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia, aimed at supporting growth in the Asia-Pacific region [2] Group 3: Supply Chain and Manufacturing - Lego's manufacturing strategy includes a diversified global footprint, with most products sold in the U.S. currently produced in Monterrey, Mexico [2] - A new factory and regional distribution center in Virginia, USA, is planned to be operational by 2027, which will change the current manufacturing dynamics [2][4]

Business Performance - Naver's Webtoon arm jumps 81% [1] Strategic Partnership - Disney deal to bring Marvel and Star Wars to digital comics [1]

Business Development - Naver's Webtoon arm experiences an 81% jump due to a Disney deal [1] - The deal aims to bring Marvel and Star Wars to digital comics [1]

Business Performance - Naver's Webtoon arm jumps 81% [1] Strategic Partnerships - Disney deal to bring Marvel and Star Wars to digital comics [1]